Calibrated digital headset and audiometric test methods therewith

Abstract

A digital headset system for use in audiometric testing. The headset system includes a stored calibration reference relating the exact frequency and volume response of each speaker to analog input signals. A microprocessor accesses the calibration reference to determine the required analog signal needed to produce the desired sound. An on-board digital to analog converter generates the required analog signal and transmits it to the speaker. The headset is used with software based audiometric test methods that allow the generation of an electronic user hearing profile. The user hearing profile may be used to re-program an audio emitting device to function in a customized manner. The user hearing profile may be overlaid on a partner hearing profile in order to emulate for the partner how sounds are perceived by the user. The test methods may be self-administered or administered by a healthcare professional.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates to the field of audiometric testing and analysis. More particularly, the invention relates to a calibrated digital headset for use with computer based audiometric test methods that may be either self-administered or administered by a trained test provider, such as a healthcare professional or industrial screener. Methods of audiometric testing using the headset and methods of adjusting the output of an audio emitting device to account for the hearing impairment of a particular listener are also disclosed.BACKGROUND[0002]In conventional audiometric testing, a test recipient is required to be assessed by a trained test provider, typically a healthcare professional, using an expensive and complicated piece of analog test equipment. The analog test equipment consists of a calibrated system comprising an analog headset and an analog tone generator capable of generating pure tone signals at several test frequencies and volume levels. The t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]The digital headset is advantageous in that only the headset needs to be calibrated, not the entire system, and that a plurality of headsets may be used and / or interchanged with any particular computer based system. Furthermore, the headset can be re-programmed to function as a customized digital audio headset, providing immediate correction for user hearing loss in certain applications (for example, listening to digital multimedia content, such as music or movies, and in voice over IP telephony).

[0013]The method may further comprise: administering a follow-up audiometric test using the headset system, the follow-up audiometric test comprising the emission of a second set of sound outputs having frequency and / or volume characteristics selected by the computer and / or healthcare professional to further characterize a region of hearing loss within the user hearing profile; receiving into the computer user feedback concerning the audibility of the second set of sound outputs; and, refining with the computer the user hearing profile based upon the results of one or more follow-up audiometric tests. The second set of sound outputs may comprise a plurality of discrete frequencies selected from between the frequencies employed in the first set of sound outputs in order to further characterize a region of hearing loss located between two or more standard test frequencies. This allows a user or healthcare professional to more accurately map out the required hearing aid characteristics to correct the hearing loss than would otherwise be possible using standard analog techniques.

[0014]The method may further comprise re-programming the digital headset system using the user hearing profile to function as a customized headset by: analyzing the user hearing profile with the computer to determine at least one region of hearing loss; determining using the computer the required amplification of frequencies within the region of hearing loss; uploading the required amplification to the headset using the digital data interface; and, electronically storing the required amplification on the digital headset in a data format accessible by the microprocessor. The re-programmed digital headset system is useful in providing immediate hearing loss correction for certain applications and this method can advantageously be performed by the user on one or more digital headsets.

[0017]The user hearing profile may be stored in a central data depository and may be uploaded or indexed on a central server for access by either the user, the partner, further healthcare professionals, or hearing aid manufacturers. This facilitates further diagnosis and the electronic ordering of customized hearing aid devices based upon the user hearing profile.

[0018]The method may further comprise: providing a microphone interconnected with an A / D converter for digitally delivering sound information to the computer; digitally recording speaker outputs using the microphone; and, comparing the digitally recorded outputs with a baseline to determine the need for re-calibration of the headset system. A digital correction obtained from the comparison conducted above may be applied within the computer or the headset to counteract the need for headset re-calibration, thereby extending the period between re-calibrations and improving the accuracy of sound reproduction.

Problems solved by technology

In conventional audiometric testing, a test recipient is required to be assessed by a trained test provider, typically a healthcare professional, using an expensive and complicated piece of analog test equipment.

This requires both the headset and tone generator to be sent off-site to a certified calibration lab, taking them out of service for a prolonged period of time, and limits the testing performed with the system to only the prescribed frequencies.

There is therefore no way to test at intermediate frequencies in order to better discriminate a region of hearing loss.

In addition, the calibration of the analog equipment is often only performed at one loudness level, potentially leading to the equipment producing inaccurate loudness levels at other volumes.

There is no means to periodically check the calibration of a particular headset, nor is there a means to compensate for a drift in calibration in between offsite re-calibrations.

It is not possible to interchange headsets with a pre-calibrated tone generator in the event that a particular headset becomes defective.

There is no way of administering a hearing self-test, particularly in the home, and no means of sharing the self-test data with trained professionals.

There is currently no way to emulate the effect of a hearing aid for the test recipient, especially in typical real world environments, and no way to emulate for a third party (eg: spouse or partner of the test recipient) the way in which sounds are perceived by the test recipient.

There is currently no way to adjust the audio output of digital audio emitting devices (eg: cell phones, MP3 players, iPod's, computers, etc.) to improve the listening experience of a particular hearing impaired listener.

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